The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, has stated that with 50 armoured personnel carriers (APCs), the military could eliminate bandits hiding in the forests of Katsina within two months.
Appearing before the House of Representatives Committee on Defence on Tuesday to present the ministry’s 2025 budget, Mr Matawalle expressed concern over the N50 billion allocated by the Federal Government. He described the sum as insufficient to effectively address the country’s persistent insecurity challenges.
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Highlighting the need for greater investment in security, the minister urged lawmakers to increase the ministry’s funding. He revealed that the proposed 2025 budget is N18 billion lower than the allocation for 2024, potentially hampering efforts to acquire the necessary equipment to combat insecurity.
The north-west region, including Katsina State, has faced significant challenges in recent years due to banditry, with communities bearing the brunt of violent attacks and kidnappings.
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